Account-cabinet.



J. S. BASE. ACCOUNT CABINET.

APPLICATION FILED APRJI. 190s.

900,646.' Patented Oct. 6, 1908.`

2 SHEETS-'SHEET 1.v

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J. S. BASH. ACCOUNT GABINET.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7. 190B.

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JOSEPH S. BASH, OF OHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS.

AocouNT-CABINET.

i Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct'. 6, 1908.

Application led April 7, 1908. Serial N o. 425,733.

To all whomc't may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH S. BASE, citizen ofthe United States,residing at Champaign, in the county of Champaign and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Account-Cabinets,of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a cabinet or device for keeping accounts, particularlyadapted for the use of merchants, and useful in connection with theordinary duplicate sales-checks given when purchases are made.

The invention includes means for holding slips to show the total amountdue from any customer, thereby serving asa ledger, the accounts beingkept in -such position that they can be readily consulted, and which atall times show the state of the accounts.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a top plan view of the filing case in which the accounts arekept and exhibited. Fig. 2 is afront elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is across section thereof. Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the holders forthe salesslips. Fig. 5 is an edge view thereof. Fig. 6 is a perspectiveview of one of the slips indicating the state of an account, which areinserted in the casing referred to. Fig. 7 is a plan of one of thesales-checks.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 1 indicates a wooden or metallicbox of proper size and shape to hold the arts hereinafter described. Atopposite sies this box has strips 2 properly recessed to receive andsupport the ends of the series of strips 3 which extend across the boxand which are arranged stepped in slightly higher position, from thefront to the rear of the box. The upper face of the strips 3 is dividedinto a series of spaces 4 by small metal ribs 5 which are s 1 pped intogrooves in the strips and whichV project slightly above the face of thestrips. Instead of the ribs, other equivalent devices may be used, orthe strips can be cut across to form the spaces referred to. Glassplates 6 are laid upon or over the successive strips 3,l

in such a way as to cover the spaces referred to and to also form a topor cover for the box by extending from one stricp to the next. The endof the glass plates fit in grooves 7 in the sides of the box 1.

The box is provided with a drawer 8 which f sale.

may be locked, and in which the holder for the sales-checks will bekept. One leaf of said'holder is indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. It consistsof a sheet of cardboard 11 provided on each side with rubber bands 10which extend through and are held in slits 12 made in f the/ cardboard,the loops of the bands projectingon opposite sides of the sheet. Thesebands hold cards or pieces 9 of cardboard,

the bands extending around the same at the y ends and the middlethereof, the cards being notched at theirl lower ends, as indicated at13, where the lower band engages, and having shoulders 14 at their upperends, whereby the cards are prevented from slipping out of place. Thesecards form a series of pockets, as indicated at 16, between the same andthe sheet 11 and these pockets are of proper size to receive theordinary sales-checks 17 which have a space at the top for the final ortotal amount due and which are also numbered in series, at the time thecheck is made out, for each customer. One of the pockets will be approriated or designated for each customer, an the names of the variouscustomers will be placed opposite each of the spaces in the strips 3 bymeans of strips of paper, as indicated at 18, pasted on the under sideof the glass plates 6. Small blank slips or cards are also provided, asindicated at 19 in Fig. 6, and these slips are of proper size to beslipped in under the glass plates and between the ribs 5, so that theywill show opposite the name of the customer.

In the use of the system the sales-slip 17 will be made out and will benumbered according to the number on the slip 19, and the nal or totalamount will be inserted according to the amount previously due, as shownby said slip 19 and the amount of the present At the same time, a slip19 will be made out containing the number of the salescheck and thetotal amount due. The original sales-check will be inserted in theproper pocket 16 and the duplicate will be given to the customer, asusual. The slip 19 will then be inserted between the glass late 6 andthe strip 3 in the space opposite t e name of the customer. It isslipped in from the outside, and when it is slipped in the prior slip ispushed or forced out and drops into the drawer 8. Thus in the embodimentillustrated the sales-check of John Smith is numbered 3 and shows a`final or total of $5 due, and the indicator slip 19 is marked 3-St5which shows that three bills remain unpaid, with a total of $5, and thecorresponding bills or checks may be found, if necessary, by referringto the check holder which, as stated, will be kept in the drawer 8.

By the means shown the state of any mans account can be instantlydetermined by looking at the indicator. When the account is paid thesales-checks are removed from the pocket and the slip from theindicator. The total amount due from all customers can be quicklyascertained by adding the amounts shown on the indicator. Bookkeeping isreduced to a minimum since the accounts of all customers are totaled andrecorded by the clerk who makes the sale, at the time the sale is made.In consequence of the construction shown the indicating slips I9 Will beheld in their appropriate places until intentionally forced out by theinsertion of another slip.

The invention is not limited to the exact embodiment shown, but variousmodifica tions may be made Within the scope of the following,l claims.

I claim: 1. The combination ol' a casing' having` a transparent top, anda support with a series of spaces under said top adapted to receivecharge slips, the transparent top extending;l beyond the support toreceive slips bearing customers names.

2. The combination. of a box, a glass plate ceive slips which may beinserted therein i from the outside.

3. The combination of a box, a series of glass plates arranged in stepsand extending across the box, and a eorrespomlingr series of stripslocated under the edges ol' lsaid plates and having` spaces under theplates into Which slips may be inserted from the outside.

In testimony whereof I allix my signalnre, in presence of two Witnesses.

JOSEPH S. BASII.

Witnesses CHAs. J. MULLIKIN, F. M. BROWN.

